Flying Machines - Page 2

Louis Malécot

Malécot designed and flew this small non-rigid airship over Paris in 1908. With a four cylinder engine and a top speed of under 20 mph, it was just controllable in light winds.

Henri Rougier

Rougier was a famous cyclist and a champion race car driver. He learned to pilot a Voisin aircraft in 1909. In September, 1909, he won the Grand Prix de Berlin at the first aviation tournament held in Germany. In fact it was a disappointment to the Germans that the French won all the prizes at this meet. The meet was held in response to tremendous public enthusiasm for Orville Wright's demonstration flights at Templehoff and Potsdam in August.

Robert Esnault-Pelterie, 1881-1957

Esnault-Pelterie followed a visionary path designing monoplanes with many features which would later become standard on modern planes. Esnault-Pelterie built engines as well. In 1904, he began glider research at Calais testing gliders based on the Wright's designs. He also invented the first aileron. He was badly injured flying this R.E.P. No. 1 monoplane in 1908. Thereafter, he had others test his designs for him.

Maurice Clément

Esnault-Pelterie followed a visionary path designing monoplanes with many features which would later become standard on modern planes. Esnault-Pelterie built engines as well. In 1904, he began glider research at Calais testing gliders based on the Wright's designs. He also invented the first aileron. He was badly injured flying this R.E.P. No. 1 monoplane in 1908. Thereafter, he had others test his designs for him.

Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin, 1838-1917

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin completed his first airship in 1899. The image shown here is probably his third design, the LZ-3, one of the few early rigid airships which did not meet with a disastrous accident.

Henri, Comte de la Vaulx, 1870-1930

Count Henri de la Vaulx piloted the Société Zodiac's non-rigid balloon Zodiac I in November, 1908. The Société Zodiac exported their balloons to Holland, Russia, and South America.

Bunau-Varilla, 1859-1940

Étienne Bunau-Varilla flew a Farman biplane at the 1909 Rheims air meet.

Germé

Janes's All the World's Aircraft, 1909, cites this aviator's name as Jermé. In July, 1909, he completed a frail biplane obviously based on the Wright brother's design.